STEPHENVILLE — It rained throughout Thursday night’s contest at the Tarleton State Soccer Complex, but the Texans pushed through for their best win of the season.
Tarleton State (5-3-7, 3-1-2 UAC) took down the top team in the United Athletic Conference standings on Homecoming Week in Stephenville, Texas, shutting out Eastern Kentucky (8-5-2, 4-1-1 UAC) 2-0. This was the Colonels’ first conference loss, as they entered the match with 13 points in UAC play, best in the league.
The Texans, meanwhile, have already tied their most conference wins in a single-season in program history. They have 11 points in UAC play now, tied-most in the Red Division with Abilene Christian and tied-second most overall in the league. This was Tarleton State’s first shutout since Sept. 11, blanking the second-highest scoring team in the UAC, behind only the Texans.
Jessica Baires picked up three more points in the match with a goal and an assist. Freshman Avery Mendez scored her fourth goal of the season to start the second half (48th minute) with the assist to Baires, then Baires finished off the Colonels in the 88th minute with her own goal, assist to Zahra Friess. Baires now has the most goals on the team with seven, and she will climb further up the D1 leaderboards in points and assists, as she entered Thursday in the top-60 in both.
Texan goalkeeper Rylie Bloomfield achieved the shutout victory, playing all 90 minutes in the box and earning two spectacular saves. Zoe Daly, Zoe Ballard, Baires, Peyton Bryant, Friess, Grace Berry and Isa Bergeron-Prejean also played all 90 minutes for the Texans.
Tarleton State outshot EKU 11-7, with three shots on goal to the Colonels’ two. EKU had a 7-4 corner kick advantage, and the Texans were called for five fouls to EKU’s one.
It was Soctoberfest in Stephenville, as the Texans gave away free boot steins to first-arriving fans, courtesy of Niccoya.
The Texans will stay home for two more on the three-match homestand, taking on West Georgia on Sunday at 1 p.m. It will be a Pink Out at the pitch, as Tarleton State promotes breast cancer awareness.
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